Opening
letter
Dear Mother,
It's been crushing victory
after victory for me, Mother.
Voices of dissent against my
leadership grow fainter with
each successive feat.
But that's not a surprise,
the unlearned brutes I face
know little of tactics.
If all goes to plan, it might
even be less than a decade
before I rule the Crescent,
but I am counting my eggs
before they hatch.
Your daughter,
Ellerie
Are you even receiving these
letters, Mother? It can't be
easy to get a letter this far,
but can you please write back?
I want to know that you're
receiving these letters.
(Unari runs through the wastes.)
unari
A duel? It took me twenty-five years to
rise from a beggar to where I am now, and you expect me to gamble it all
in a duel?
I did so much for Frosthaven, and this is the reward for my service?
Curse you, Bardiche, curse you, Daffo-
Is that an airship? An opportunity.
Don't blame me, Frostfires, I will survive.
ellerie
I was mentally prepared, but the world
shifting from warm green to frigid white
in a single step is an event to behold.
What's the leading theory on the bizarre
nature of the White Wastes, Lindros?
lindros
Some ancient super weapon went off.
The corpse of a god fell here. There
was a dark ritual. Nobody has any idea.
ellerie
Such unnatural temperatures, and this
“snow". Of course it had to be some
kind of freak magical accident.
lindros
I've read that in some parts of the
world, snow occurs naturally by seasons.
There are even places where snow is
permanent, yet villages still survive.
ellerie
Sounds like nonsense. Who could
live in this kind of condition?
I've been here for less than a
day and I find it unbearable.
lindros
There's no shortage of peculiar
places beyond our shores.
ellerie
On the topic of peculiar places, is
that an entire village down there?
And with living people none the less.
lindros
There's nothing here on my map
and it was supposedly just updated.
Has this village really been
hidden here this entire time?
ellerie
We certainly would not have discovered
it if we could not see it from the sky.
(Pomelo rushes in.)
pomelo
We have a problem!
A real bad one!
ellerie
As opposed to a
real good problem.
pomelo
Our engines are freezing over and
we're burning way more fuel.
It's only sustainable for a
short while longer at most.
lindros
The White Wastes will be safe,
she says. We have an airship.
ellerie
Oh, shut up, it's not like
you raised any concerns.
(Mince approaches.)
mince
Chief, we have a serious
problem with our food supply.
ellerie
Of course we do. You can't
tell me it's spoiled, right?
In these temperatures?
mince
Turns out that villain “mislabelled"
the crates and sent us chicken feed!
And we didn't have time to properly
check everything like we usually do.
ellerie
Tell me his name. He is dead
next time we visit Yalunzar.
mince
It was the oily one.
Oates, or something.
lindros
This is what happens when
you make decisions on a whim.
ellerie
Fine, Lindros. I was too hasty
and a failure of a human being.
pomelo
Ellerie, I don't want to
put any pressure on you, but we're gonna have to make
a rapid exit pretty soon!
ellerie
Descend near that village. Let's see
if they're open to surprise trading.
lindros
If they've kept themselves hidden for
this long, they must have some reason.
I wouldn't put it past them to try
to... silence us for some reason.
ellerie
If they're hostile, then we'll
kill them and take their stuff.
Simple as that.
mince
You've changed your mindset from
our early adventuring days, Chief.
ellerie
We're a lot more battle ready
than nine people in a dinghy.
Unless they have a small army
hidden down there, we'll be fine.
piquerato
Your Holiness, the operation was a success.
As we planned, the Pirate Sages have taken
action against the nearby settlements.
Emboldened by Archsage Ulach's success,
the Iron Prince and the Frostfires
have declared all-out war on the Guild.
lord of pain
It only took a few nudges for
those fools to devour each other, while our manipulations remain
entirely undetected.
Oh ho ho, truly a confluence of strategic
brilliance and masterful execution!
Only one with a great mind such
as myself could achieve this result.
piquerato
Your holiness, I believe not only
did I draft up this whole operation, I also carried out every step of it.
lord of pain
Yes, yes, I'm sure you helped.
With each major power weakened, the time grows ever shorter
for the Cabal to reveal itself, and take control of this holy land!
piquerato
And you promised me a significant
reward on condition of my success.
lord of pain
I can't seem to recall... But I probably did.
I now appoint you Vice Supreme
Cupbearer of the Sacred Wines.
piquerato
That's the best I'm getting out
of this, isn't it?
Your holiness, has the Foodman departed on some
mission? I've not seen him around.
lord of pain
Oh, him? I've sent him and twenty
men to kill the Malevolent One.
They are to return with his head,
or not at all.
piquerato
Why would you send someone so impulsive
and thick-headed on a mission that may
so easily compromise our anonymity?
If you really needed the Malevolent
One dealt with, at least use a more
covert approach, like the plan I drafted?
lord of pain
I remember no such plan.
piquerato
I was so sure that-
Cibarious! Get over here!
(Cibarious approaches.)
cibarious
I was having a great casserole.
Why'd you interrupt me?
piquerato
I told you to forward my plans for the
Malevolent One to his Holiness, did I not?
cibarious
Hmm, don't remember.
piquerato
I do remember that morning very well.
I was to depart for my operation and
I repeated this instruction three times, over a breakfast of poached dragon egg.
cibarious
That explains it. I was very busy
at the time and was unable to hear.
piquerato
You weren't even doing
anything besides eating.
cibarious
Mealtime is no social activity.
You give your mind no time to
truly understand the flavors, clogged with thoughts of plotting.
It is why you have risen so
slowly up the ranks these years.
piquerato
... Talking with you
is a waste of time.
cibarious
If that's all you need, I will go enjoy
my pegasus casserole in peace.
(Cibarious leaves.)
piquerato
What's done is done, I suppose.
Hopefully Foodman hasn't
given away our entire existence.
lord of pain
You worry too much, young Piquerato.
Trust in your fellow brother,
within these natural boundaries,
none can find us even if they wished.
(Cibarious comes back.)
cibarious
Your Holiness, that appears to be
some kind of airship outside our town.
They are trying to open negotiations.
lord of pain
An airship? It's the Seahawks,
associates of the Malevolent One!
They are here to kill us all,
like they did on the Mainland!
piquerato
Wait! If they want to talk, then there is
room to maneuver us into a better position.
Perhaps the Seahawks do not know of us,
or there is something they need.
lord of pain
There can be no negotiation
with the Malevolent One, for his existence is a taint
upon the very world itself!
piquerato
It'd at least buy
us some time to-
lord of pain
Sound the alarms! Raise our banners!
Rally our troops! Let every man, woman and child raise up arms!
It's kill or be killed!
piquerato
(closes eyes) Keep calm. Think of
your endgame, Piquerato.
daffodil
The Airship has landed, and
sounds of battle? What do we do?
bardiche
The Boss might take this opportunity
to sell the Frostfires to the Seahawks, in exchange for our lives.
daffodil
She wouldn't!
Would she?
bardiche
What did she always say?
Do whatever it takes to survive.
daffodil
Then what do we do? There's only
so many Frostfires willing to
follow you rather than the Boss.
(Maurice approaches.)
maruice
I may have something
to add to this.
bardiche
Where the hell did
you spring from?
maruice
Peace, I am unarmed.
The Seahawks
have engaged some unknown foes
in a skirmish. With my own forces, and your cooperation, we can
ensure they and your rogue Boss
do not survive this day.
daffodil
Bardiche, you think
we can trust him?
maruice
Our interests are the same.
I have no reason to lie to you.
My adventurers will enter the
fray first, if that is your concern.
bardiche
That's all I need to hear.
We can't pass up this opportunity to
take down one of our toughest foes.
Our fellow Frostfires will be avenged.
daffodil
Right, I'll follow your lead.
It's the boss or us.
maruice
I am glad we can cooperate
on this shared objective.
mince
Negotiations have failed.
And they might actually have
a whole army down there.
ellerie
I would have paid a decent price too.
If they want payment in blood, fine!
mince
... Is that... Oh, Chief, this
is bad. I think they're the cabal.
ellerie
Am I supposed to
know what that is?
mince
Just know that they pack some serious magic
and are very much not open to negotiation.
ellerie
I think I can tell. Everyone, to action!
We're under immediate attack.
mince
Really hoped I wouldn't have
to see the- Halt, or I'll fire!
(Unari approaches.)
unari
Huff, huff...
I'm dropping my weapons!
Where's the Seahawk Captain?
I've got a really good
proposition for her!
ellerie
The Frostfire commander, alone?
What is going on today?
Alright, make it damn quick!
unari
If you kill the traitors after my head,
I'll give information on the Frostfires,
Jeziel, Frosthaven, damn anything!
ellerie
That means there's more enemies
arriving shortly, isn't it?
We don't have time for this.
Help us fight these foes off, and I'll count that as evidence
of your trustworthiness!
unari
I like these odds
a lot better!
fine fellow
They've landed. Here's our
chance to get them, lads!
There's only room for one legendary
adventuring band in these parts, and your heads are worth their weight
in gold.
I would say nothing personal, but with how arrogant you upstarts
have been, it is absolutely personal.
narrator
Seahawk II will lose 10 HP
and 10 Max HP per turn.
You regain 10 Max HP by
landing on a marked house.
(Warriors descend from the mountains.)
humanslayer 1
Gwahahahahahahaha!
humanslayer 2
Gwohohohohohohoho!
humanslayer
Gwehehehehehehehe!
young man
Gwuhuhu?
humanslayer
That was a weak laugh!
Put some effort into it.
young man
Gwu- Cough. Father, I don't
know if I can do this.
humanslayer
...The other two aren't around, so I
can be a bit more easy on you.
Son, I get it. The path to becoming
a Humanslayer is filled with tribulations.
I didn't know if I could handle it, but I persevered, and I was not nearly
as good as you are at your age.
I don't demand perfection from you, Son, only that you push yourself as far
as you can. Let's kill them together.
young man
Right! I'll do my
best, Father!
Ending
If Gecko and John XVI are alive
john xvi
They have so much meat!
Rows and rows and rows.
A feast for the eyes,
as well as just a feast.
gecko
Doesn't this just feel
a little wrong to you?
We just killed all the people
that prepared all this food.
They were going to have
a wonderful lunch.
And now we've killed them and
taken their seats at the table,
eating the food meant for them.
john xvi
(frowns) You're really weird.
(John XVI leaves.)
gecko
What?
I'm not weird, am I?
If Tasel and Whipjack are alive
tasel
Behold! The food of the gods!
I am weeping tears of joy.
whipjack
... That's just
buttered bread.
tasel
Buttered bread, from the heavens
itself! Oh, how I've missed you so.
whipjack
Whatever works for you.
I'll just enjoy consuming this block
of cheese like a regular person.
Mmmmm, that hits the spot.
If Vermillion and Joyful Jo are alive
vermillion
I don't understand, Senior.
You're telling me I've been going about
this ascension completely wrong?
joyful jo
I'm afraid so, Young Red. What made you
believe bloodshed leads to ascension?
vermillion
Whenever I kill, there is a fleeting moment
of euphoria. Surely, this must be the path.
joyful jo
You are giving in to desire, Young
Red, an easy mistake for fledglings.
Those that walk this path will find
power, but never true ascension.
To fully understand your desires, and
reject them, that is the rightful path.
vermillion
Your years make you wise,
Senior. How can I do that?
joyful jo
Many seekers struggle for centuries,
it's no easy task. But let me guide you.
Begin by closing off your senses.
vermillion
Okay.
joyful jo
Don't respond, it'll distract you. Look into
yourself. Feel the processes within your body.
vermillion
...
joyful jo
Sink deeper within yourself.
Let your focus drift away.
Let only your natural movements
of your body guide you.
vermillion
(I'm hungry.).
joyful jo
Disregard any outside stimuli.
Close yourself off to the world, except for my voice.
Look for your inner stillness.
What is inner stillness?
It is a state of being that lets
you be one with the world.
No thoughts. No desire.
Simply, rest.
offscreen
Damn, they have so much rice
here! We'll be good for days.
ellerie
I certainly was not expecting to
meet the Frostfire Commander
under circumstances such as these.
unari
I could say the same. Would have
preferred a slightly better position.
ellerie
You owe us a good deal, and
I certainly intend to collect.
(Oren approaches.)
oren
Ellerie, uh, Chief! We should
really hear her out, Unari's a good woman, one of
the best in fact, and really-
ellerie
Yeah, I am. What, you think I was
going to kill a valuable asset?
unari
If there's one word that reassures
my safety, it's valuable.
oren
I heard about Bardiche and the
rest, those traitorous scum.
I'm glad at least that we did
not have to meet in battle.
ellerie
But you joined this trip instead
of leaving with the rest of Irinde.
(Not that I'd have given you
that opportunity anyways.)
oren
I figured I could maybe, ensure Unari
was captured rather than killed.
unari
Heh, that's sweet of you. You
were so sure I'd lose this war?
oren
You were up against the Chief of Irinde,
and they tend to be pretty good.
ellerie
... You two can have
your heartfelt reunion.
I need to get cleanup
with the crew done.
We will talk later.
(Ellerie leaves.)
unari
Oren, do you really not harbor
any resentment against me for
participating in your imprisonment?
oren
That wretched Jeziel would have killed
me on the spot, if you didn't stop him.
As for the rest... You have to do what's
best for your people. Can't begrudge you.
unari
You're too trusting of a fellow for
your own good.
In your position, I'd assume I was keeping you
alive as a bargaining tool, maybe acting as the friend
to better make use of you.
oren
The Unari I know would
never sell out her own.
(smiles) And I have a good eye
for people, as you know.
unari
(smiles) ... Yeah, you do. Thanks,
Oren, I needed that.
oren
(frowns) But you might have a worse eye.
Jeziel as an ally? Of all people?
unari
(serious) The Guild will go on with or
or without the Guildmaster.
But Jeziel is the only thing
stabilising the Iron Realms.
It was supposed to be two
birds with a single stone...
And I know you. You'd never
bet Irinde on my gamble.
oren
I suppose so, Unari. But as it
turns out, Irinde doesn't agree.
ellerie
Everything's all
cleaned up?
oriana
Everyone important to this cult is
either dead, or took their own life.
The rest were kidnapped, or entirely
ignorant. What is going on here?
tower
What's more... What a mishmash of
characters. There's adventurers, some of those faithful scum, but
even missing members of the Sect.
oriana
There's something optimistic about
bitter foes uniting for a common cause, but this doesn't seem like a good one.
tower
Such an unholy union
indicates only depravity.
ellerie
Mince recognised them,
called them the Cabal?
tower
That's no name I've heard of.
An operation of this size
must have taken some time.
And I've lived here a long time.
oriana
Mince, what are
these cabalists?
mince
They appeared on the Mainland south
as a humble group of traveling cooks, they were obsessed with the idea of
perfecting the meals that would
then perfect their own bodies.
Harmless, if a little eccentric.
It was only as their number grew, that House Hyacinth, ever wary of
any that might encroach upon their
authority in the south, investigated.
And they discovered the truth
of their horrendous goal.
tower
Even Ellerie didn't know of them as a
Court Magistrate, but you know a lot.
mince
Assuming because
I am a chef?
oriana
Let's not leap to conclusions.
He could have just lived in the area.
mince
In this case, Tower's exactly right.
It took several years for House Hyacinth
to purge their influence in its entirety, and it weakened them enough that they
retreated from the seat of power.
ellerie
It's cannibalism, isn't it?
mince
What?
ellerie
So you have some odd cult obsessed with
empowering themselves through consumption, and was dangerous enough for one of the
great houses to commit their resources.
The end step is clearly cannibalism, right?
mince
Chief, you're wrong.
It's not nearly that simple.
oriana
I'm relieved it's not that, given the crew has already started
pillaging their foodstuffs.
ellerie
Isn't that good news. But
now you have me curious.
tower
Just let it remain forgotten. The Captain
can live with not knowing everything.
mince
Tower's right. Let it die with the Cabal.
Their roots were burnt on the Mainland.
This is likely their last sanctuary.
tower
And good riddance too.
Elis knows what could've occurred
if they were allowed to fester.
A shame so many of the Sect
were lured into this heresy.
oriana
And all this to have happened
entirely by accident.
ellerie
I'll be wondering about
this for a long time.
But maybe it's best if
I stay in the dark.
If Zububai was recruited and survived
zububai
-must've knocked my head real fierce,
for I knew little of who I was, and how I got here. All I knew was
that the cold bit harder than
even the northern reaches of Bailu.
That's how I found myself using
a grave as shelter. For the place of
the dead to be a sanctuary for life, there's some beauty in that.
ellerie
That's quite the tale. You really
don't remember anything?
zububai
A tragic state of affairs for this
poor old woman, with no family or
home of her own to even remember.
Could I not offer my services in
exchange for passage? I see
you're some kind of mercenary and, not to be boastful, I have some
mastery of almost all weapons
across my many years of living.
ellerie
We'd take you regardless of your skills,
falling prey to the cold is no way to go.
zububai
I see there's good people in the world,
even in this land foreign to me.
(Zububai leaves.)
ellerie
Now that story is already spotty, but the
Bailu continent sank during the cataclysm, over three centuries ago, I remember this.
If it doesn't harm me, it's not my business.
If Betrayer was recruited and survived
ellerie
Here's the interesting thing.
You were referred to as “The Betrayer", before you switched to the right side.
Why would this be the case?
betrayer
Full-name is Bensten Treiyor, or B. Treiyor,
most call me. Easy mistake to make.
ellerie
Really?
betrayer
Caused me some trouble in my childhood.
Name is a bit of a sore point.
ellerie
That was the most unbelievable thing
I've ever heard, but incredibly,
I will give you a chance in the crew.
betrayer
Won't regret this,
you will.
White Wastes
(A lone Cook Cabalist runs through the wastes.)
cook cabal
Those murderous adventurers
may think they are rid of us,
but as long as I survive, a lorekeeper with all the
secrets of the cabal, we will spread its roots
once more.
Sleep soundly, Malevolent One. If it takes another decade, or three, or a century, we will return.
(Maurice ambushes him.)
maurice
Cabal scum. The world
is glad to be rid of you.
cook cabal
No, no, no!
Not before-
(Maurice kills the lorekeeper.)
If Quilan is alive
(Quilan approaches Maurice.)
maurice
I was wondering if you'd
show your face here.
It appears you're more
confident than I expected.
quilan
What an honor for such an infamous
individual to contact me himself.
I had to see what you wanted.
maurice
I thought it was by chance that
the Humanslayers were unavailable, so colour me surprised when they
also arrived in this battle.
Took me some snooping around
to trace it back to you.
quilan
I thought I had concealed my tracks
perfectly in giving the Seahawks
a little more challenge along the way.
I suppose complacency does come with age.
maurice
Why not take a more reliable
way of closing the matter?
quilan
Oh? What do
you suggest?
maurice
Poison them. They're too
cautious for me to get close, but you have plenty of chances.
I can provide ones that
are lethal with small dosages, yet are difficult to detect.
quilan
Death by poison would make for
such an unexciting conclusion.
No, I will pass on this offer.
maurice
Unexciting conclusion?
quilan
If the Seahawks are to fall,
it must be in a dramatic fashion, an ending worthy of their saga.
To have it all end with keeling
over at the dinner table? Why, I might as well scrap
this tale altogether.
maurice
You're insane.
(Maurice leaves.)
quilan
The look on his face!
It does feel satisfying to have
someone to reveal my plans to, even if they can't appreciate it.
secundus
Your Highness, no movements from the
Guild. They appear to be staying put.
Irinde's forces have retreated west.
jeziel
There's the hope the Guild has
been damaged enough to prefer
restoration over retaliation, not that we are much better.
The Archsage must make up for
our losses. Anything else?
secundus
Nothing else. Our airborne scouts
have been performing far better, now that their airship is no longer
shooting us while patrolling the city.
jeziel
Did you see their airship leave
with Irinde's forces?
secundus
... No, Your Highness.
jeziel
You fool! They've already left!
Sir Secundus, gather the first four
divisions for immediate action.
Send a messenger to warn the
Frostfires. There's only one place
that they'd strike unnoticed!
Character Descriptions
Unari
The former commander of the Frostfires
forced to throw in her lot with me.
Useful and decidedly untrustworthy.
Zububai
A most peculiar individual with an
obviously suspicious past, but as
long as they are useful, I don't care.
Betrayer [Enemy]
I don't like the look in his eyes.
What does he know that I don't?
Betrayer [Recruited]
A shifty individual whose motives in
switching sides are shrouded in mystery.
I suspect he could possibly betray us.
Lord of Pain
The leader of some hidden organisation.
He only has himself to blame when
we burn this place to the ground.
Piquerato
No idea who this is. Probably kicks
puppies in her spare time or some
other crime of the sort.
Cibarious
Still eating on the battlefield. Either very
confident or very foolish, and given she's
facing us, I'd say definitely the latter.
Cook Cabal
What started off as a passionate group
of cooks turned into a cult looking for
immortality through the perfect dish.
Cratemancer
Sorcerers that are outsourcing the jobs
of paid mercenaries to unpaid objects.
This kind of behaviour must be stopped.
Killer Crate
A box containing weapons. Makes for
a more dangerous opponent than Maurice.
Bardiche
Unari's former right-hand-man whose
impromptu promotion will be very short-
lived. Thanks for giving me Unari.
Daffodil
An incredibly accomplished adventurer
for her age. Would have a great destiny
ahead of her if she didn't die right here.
Frostfires
An adventuring band that made their
fortune pillaging artifacts in the White
Wastes. Not immune to fire or the cold.
Fine Fellow
A third-rate adventurer that leads a
third-rate adventuring band.
Incompetent and destined for failure.
Fine Fifteen
A third-rate adventuring band.
Notably, less than fifteen people.
Humanslayer
Some burly men that shout a lot?
I am genuinely clueless to where
these people keep coming from.
Wood Lord
A conduit for the invasion forces
determined to exterminate humanity.